Apparatus for processing light-sensitive materials

Abstract

An apparatus for processing a light-sensitive material that has a roller that is partly submerged in a processing solution and that picks up said processing solution to supply said processing solution onto the light-sensitive material being transported above said processing solution. The roller is rotated at a peripheral speed at least 1.5 times the absolute value of the transport speed of said light-sensitive material.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In an apparatus for processing a light-sensitive material that has a roller that is partly submerged in a processing solution and that picks up said processing solution to supply said processing solution onto the light-sensitive material being transported above said processing solution, the improvement wherein said roller is rotated at a peripheral speed at least 1.5 times the absolute value of the transport speed of said light-sensitive material. 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processing solution is a cleaning solution. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absolute value of the rotational speed of said roller is at least 60 times the absolute value of the transport speed of said light sensitive material. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absolute value of the rotational speed of said roller is in a range of 20 to 1000 times the absolute value of the transport speed of said light sensitive material. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absolute value of the rotational speed of said roller is in a range of 30 to 500 times the absolute value of the transport speed of said light sensitive material. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absolute value of the rotational speed of said roller is in a range of 60 to 300 times the absolute value of the transport speed of said light sensitive material. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a space above said processing solution is substantially airtight. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said space is filled with an inert gas. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said roller is rotated in a direction opposite to a transportation direction of said light-sensitive material. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said roller has grooves and ridges on a peripheral surface thereof. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a depth of said grooves and ridges is in a range of 0.1 to 5 mm. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said roller is a water-absorbing roller. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said roller has a wire wound on an outer surface thereof. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said wire has a diameter in a range of 1 to 5 mm. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said roller is a roller for gravure printing. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said roller is a flat-faced roller. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said roller is a sponge roller. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said roller is provided with blades for picking up said processing solution. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said roller is rotated in the forward direction with respect to a transportation direction of said light-sensitive material after being rotated in a reverse direction for a predetermined time. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said roller is rotated in the reverse direction with respect to a transportation direction of said light-sensitive material after being rotated in a forward direction for a predetermined time. 
     
     
       21. In an apparatus for processing a light-sensitive material by passing said light-sensitive material through a plurality of successively arranged tanks containing processing solution, the improvement wherein at least one of said tanks has a roller that is partly submerged in the processing solution contained in said tank and that picks up said processing solution to supply said processing solution onto the light-sensitive material being transported above said tank, said roller being rotated at a peripheral speed at least 1.5 times the absolute value of the transport speed of said light-sensitive material. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein one of said rollers is provided in a plurality of said tanks. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein a liquid level in a later tank is higher than a liquid level in a preceding tank. 
     
     
       24. In an apparatus for processing a light-sensitive material by passing said light-sensitive material through a tank containing processing solution, the improvement wherein said tank is provided with a pair of rollers that are partly submerged in the processing solution contained in said tank and that pick up said processing solution to supply said processing solution onto the light-sensitive material being transported above said tank, said rollers being rotated at a peripheral speed at least 1.5 times the absolute value of the transport speed of said light-sensitive material. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein an upstream one of said rollers is rotated in a forward direction with respect to the direction of transportation of said light-sensitive material through said tank and the other of said rollers being rotated in a reverse direction with respect to said direction of transportation.